The Big Sur area offers many backpacking opportunities on its vast network of trials. The Santa Lucia Mountain Range sets the stage for numerous trails that zig zag through redwood & oak forests, sage brush and in some areas great vistas of the Pacific Ocean.
This area covers roughly 100 miles of coastline from the Carmel River State Beach to San Simeon State Beach in the south. All of this is easily accessible thanks to California State Route 1 also know as the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) or simply Highway 1.
State & Federal Lands – The region consists of six state parks. These parks offer many public spaces which are relatively small. Most trails are short and are categorized as day use only. Overnight camping is only allowed in designated campsites.
- Point Lobos: Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is outstanding for sightseeing, photography, painting, nature watching, picnicking and SCUBA diving.
- Garrapata: Garrapata State Park is a state park located on Highway 1 6.7 miles south of Carmel and 18 miles north of Big Sur on the Monterey coast. It is marked only with one sign on the west side of the road.
- Andrew Molera: Andrew Molera State Park has over 20 miles (32 km) of hiking trails. Some run along the shore, others along the Big Sur River, while still others climb to high ridges with views of the entire Big Sur coast. The only camping available in the park is in a 24-site walk-in campground. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground is particularly popular with visitors. No dogs are allowed on the trails or campground.
- Pfeiffer Big Sur: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is a state park in Monterey County, near the area of Big Sur. It covers approximately 1,006 acres of land. The park is centered on the Big Sur River. It has been nicknamed a “mini Yosemite.”
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns: Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is a state park is located 12 miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. A main feature of the park is McWay Falls, which drops over a cliff of 80 feet into the Pacific Ocean. The park is also home to 300-foot redwoods trees which are over 2,500 years old.
- Limekiln: Limekiln State Park is a state park along the Big Sur coast. It contains four lime kilns from an 1887–1890 lime-calcining operation, plus a beach, redwood forest, and 100-foot Limekiln Falls. It is located 2 miles south of Lucia on State Route 1.
- Hearst San Simeon: Located on the south of the Big Sur Area. Hearst San Simeon State Park is one of the oldest units of the California State Park System. The park includes the Santa Rosa Creek Natural Preserve, the San Simeon Natural Preserve and the Pa-nu Cultural Preserve which were established in 1990.
Ventana & Silver Peak Wilderness – Encompassing nearly 250,000 acres, most trails lie within The Ventana and Silver Peak Wildernesses’
No permit is required for overnight stays in the back country; however, it is required to obtain a Campfire permit. Campfire permits are required for open fires such as campfire, barbecues and portable stoves on federally controlled land. Get your California Campfire Permit online here
Note: As of December 2018, Campfires are prohibited anywhere on the Forest except in designated campgrounds.
For a list of trails and trail conditions click here.